Ondo self-serve food locker assembly, system, and method

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a touchless automatic food locker apparatus, system, and method providing automated self-serve food lockers. Embodiments include arrays of modular food lockers having a public access door and a kitchen access door opposed to each other, assembled as a wall between the public space and the kitchen. Each food locker kitchen access door is adapted to receive a food item disposed into the locker. Heating and cooling elements maintain the appropriate food item temperature in the locker. Sensors, lighting, and UV lighting coupled to the locker detects a state of the item in the locker. The locker further includes credentialed access by the customer to the food locker from the public access door by an assembly coupled to the food locker utilizing mobile communication and intelligent analysis to reduce waiting time, keep food products fresh, and assure quality product delivery.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/970,012, filed Feb. 4, 2020, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to self-serve food locker assemblies,systems, and methods. More particularly, this disclosure includesautomated self-serve food locker assemblies, systems, and methodsproviding touchless operation of pass-through food lockers.

BACKGROUND

As consumers demand more diverse food options without sacrificingquality and convenience, restaurants and fast-casual brands are seekinginnovative ways to provide a unique and positive customer experience.Many brands emphasize speed and ease of ordering by offering to-go menusand the ability to order food online. When managed effectively, thisminimizes the wait time for customers while providing the restaurantwith an additional revenue stream. However, unique challenges arepresented when attempting to create a seamless takeout orderingexperience.

A typical restaurant relies on the availability of staff members forhandling customer to go orders. In a busy restaurant setting, this canbe a stressful and time-consuming ordeal for both the customer and therestaurant. Mix-ups and unnecessarily long wait times are not uncommon.Human labor is one of the highest operational costs for restaurants;however, people are becoming unnecessary, and even detrimental in manyscenarios, such as handling of take-out orders.

Another challenge associated restaurants face in providing takeout iscombating heat gain or loss in the food while awaiting pickup. Takeoutorders are often placed in paper or plastic bags, which do little toprevent heat gain or loss during storage. Receiving food too hot or coldoften frustrates consumers can damage a restaurant's reputation. Inaddition, perishable foods cause safety concerns when mishandled. TheUSDA recommends that once food is cooked, it should be stored at 140degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or above, and cold foods shouldbe stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.44 degrees Celsius) or below untilconsumed. For takeout foods, it is recommended that perishable foodsshould not be kept between 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.44 degrees Celsius)and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) for over two hours.

The Covid-19 pandemic heightened the need for takeout food deliveryimprovements within new health safety protocols. Minimizing humantouching of prepared takeout food containers and delivery compartmentsis a demonstrable factor in limiting global bacteriological and viralcontaminations.

There is a need for food locker assemblies, systems, and methods thatprovide: 1) automated control of food locker access for loading andunloading the locker; 2) touchless pass-through food compartments foractive food modular locker arrays between a kitchen environment and apublic space; 3) ultra-violet sterilizing lights in germ food lockers;4) separate hot-cold lockers with integrated timed heating/coolingtemperature control; 5) food compartment doors with integrated humanmachine interface (HMI) control screens; and 6) linear drive hardware ontouchless food compartment motorized doors.

SUMMARY

The disclosure details a unique steel cabinetry series that leveragestoday's technology to eliminate the common challenges involved intakeout ordering. The to go ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly,system, and method with hot and cold food storage capability provides aconvenient automated self-service ordering platform for a virtuallyenhanced dining experience. Not only does the system benefit consumersby allowing them to skip the lines and retrieve their orders directly,but it also reduces the restaurant's operational costs by eliminatingthe need for additional staff. Through automating the ordering processand eliminating unnecessary staff intervention, restaurants can reducecongestion in waiting areas as multiple customers are servedsimultaneously. The customer will experience streamlined service withassurance they are receiving their food at a safe temperature and from abacteria and virus free storage environment.

The principal components of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly,system, and method are food locker doors with an integrated Human UserMachine Interface, (HMI) or User Interface (UI), which serve as acustomer interface. The doors are housed in cabinetry and providepass-through access using automated flip-up food locker doors orconventional opening food locker doors for easy order retrieval.Integrated heating and/or refrigeration system control food lockerinternal temperature for preserving the customer's order. The ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, and method provide a “modular,”energy efficient insulated system utilizing parallel stacking ofself-contained towers for expansion as befits venue or facility spaceavailability.

Once the customer places an order via smartphone or through atouch-screen kiosk in the restaurant, they will be prompted for payment,which can be done at the kiosk or via smartphone for mobile orders. Oncepayment is received, the prepared food is placed in an ONDO™ food lockerand the kiosk or mobile application notifies the customer that theirorder is ready for pickup. The notification indicates the food lockernumber where the order is placed and a reminder it must be picked upwithin a predetermined time frame. The customer has this window of timeto retrieve their food from the food locker before the food is removedand discarded by restaurant staff. The food locker's HMI/UI screendisplays the locker number, the customer's first name or other customerprovided data for easy identification. In addition, the countdown fromthe predetermined pickup time window is displayed. Once the customerfinds the correct locker, he or she is prompted to press an on-screenbutton for input of a PIN number or a bar code or quick response (QR)code to open the food locker. This customer input prompts the automatedfood locker doors to open, allowing food retrieval. An integratedoccupancy sensor will sense when the food has been collected and willautomatically close the door.

The ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, and method alsoincorporate monitor screens for both the food service attendant(s) andkitchen staff. This capability provides monitoring each order's queueand status.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are depicted in the drawings for illustrativepurposes and should in no way be interpreted as limiting theembodiments. In addition, various features of different disclosedembodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments, which arepart of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view of a modular 3×4 array foran embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly.

FIG. 2 is a representative interactive human-machine interface screenfor an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly.

FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 2×3 array of 12-inch by 16-inch(30.48 cm by 40.64 cm) modular food lockers in a 48-inch (1219.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 3B is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 2×4 array of 12-inch by 12-inch(30.48 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 48-inch (1219.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 3C is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 2×5 array of 8-inch by 12-inch(20.32 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 48-inch (1219.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 3D is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 3×5 array of 8-inch by 8-inch(20.32 cm by 20.32 cm) modular food lockers in a 48-inch (1219.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 2×3 of 12-inch by 16-inch (30.48cm by 40.64 cm) modular food lockers in a 60-inch (1524 mm) bay.

FIG. 4B is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 3×4 array of 12-inch by 12-inch(30.48 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 60-inch (1524 mm) bay.

FIG. 4C is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 3×5 array of 8-inch by 12-inch(20.32 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 60-inch (1524 mm) bay.

FIG. 4D is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 4×5 array of 8-inch by 8-inch(20.32 cm by 20.32 cm) modular food lockers in a 60-inch (1524 mm) bay.

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 3×3 array of 12-inch by 16-inch(30.48 cm by 40.64 cm) modular food lockers in a 78-inch (1981.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 5B is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 4×4 array of 12-inch by 12-inch(30.48 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 78-inch (1981.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 5C is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 4×5 array of 8-inch by 12-inch(20.32 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 78-inch (1981.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 5D is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 6×5 array of 8-inch by 8-inch(20.32 cm by 20.32 cm) modular food lockers in a 78-inch (1981.2 mm)bay.

FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 4×3 array of 12-inch by 16-inch(30.48 cm by 40.64 cm) modular food lockers in a 96-inch (2438.4 mm)bay.

FIG. 6B is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 5×4 array of 12-inch by 12-inch(30.48 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers in a 96-inch (2438.4 mm)bay.

FIG. 6C is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 5×5 array of 8-inch by 12-inch(20.32 cm by 30.48 cm) modular food lockers array in a 96-inch (2438.4mm) bay.

FIG. 6D is a front elevational view of an embodiment of an ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly for a 7×5 array of 8-inch by 8-inch(20.32 cm by 20.32 cm) modular food lockers in a 96-inch (2438.4 mm)bay.

FIG. 7 is a representative schematic 200 for the electrical system forembodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod.

FIG. 8 is a representative system schematic 300 for an embodiment of theONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker method.

FIG. 9 is a continuation of the representative system schematic of FIG.8.

FIG. 10 is a continuation of the representative system schematic of FIG.8

FIG. 11A is a representative interactive human-machine interface screenfor runner input to the system for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serveFood Locker assembly, system, and method.

FIG. 11B is a representative interactive human-machine interface screenfor runner input to the system for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serveFood Locker assembly, system, and method.

FIG. 12 is a continuation of the representative system schematic of FIG.8.

FIG. 13 is a representative interactive human-machine interface screenshot of food locker status for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serveFood Locker assembly, system, and method.

FIG. 14 is a representative schematic 500 for an embodiment of the ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker method.

FIG. 15 is a continuation of the representative method schematic of FIG.14

FIG. 16B is a front right bottom perspective view of the automaticpass-through modular food locker 10 of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A is a rear left top perspective view of the automaticpass-through modular food locker 10 assembly of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17B is a rear right bottom perspective view of the automaticpass-through modular food locker 10 of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 18 is a front right top perspective view of a power drawer for anembodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod.

FIG. 19A is front right top perspective view of a technology towerstation for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly,system, and method.

FIG. 19B is front right top perspective view of a technology remotemounted station for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Lockerassembly, system, and method.

FIG. 20 is front right top perspective view of a self-contained towerwith a 1×4 array of stackable, modular automatic pass-through foodlockers for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly,system, and method.

FIG. 21 is rear left top perspective view of the self-contained towerwith a 1×4 array of stackable, modular automatic pass-through foodlockers of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22A is a front elevational view of the is front right topperspective view of the self-contained tower with a 1×4 array ofstackable, modular automatic pass-through food lockers of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22B is a right-side elevational view of the self-contained towerwith a 1×4 array of stackable, modular automatic pass-through foodlockers of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional sectional view of FIG. FIG. 22A taken at“23-23.”

FIG. 24 is an exploded view of self-contained tower with a 1×4 array ofstackable, modular automatic pass-through food lockers of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod are disclosed in FIGS. 1-24.

FIG. 1 depicts a representative 3×4 array of modular automaticpass-through self-serve food lockers locker assembly 12 for anembodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod. The main cabinet houses twelve individual modular automaticpass-through self-serve food lockers 10 with internal dimensions of12″×12″×19″ (30.48 cm×30.48 cm×48.26 cm). Each food locker 10 isconfigured for hot or cold food item storage. Multiple modular arrays12, size permutations, and combinations of the disclosed food lockers 10for variants are in depicted in FIGS. 3A-6D. Food service staff cantoggle between heating and refrigeration according to the food beingprepared. Each individual food locker can be configured for heating orcooling with the flip of a switch. Customer and administrative access tothe food locker ordering, retrieval and other delivery for some variantsis managed through an integral or remote touch screen 96, FIGS. 1, 2,19A and 19B. Operational control of the food locker, including thetemperature is managed through key board or touch screen input, FIGS.11A, 11B, and 13 a digital processor 206, a memory module 196 coupled tothe digital processor 190, a network interface 192 comprising wirelessWi-Fi® connectivity 194 or ethernet connectivity 296 and coupled to thedigital processor 190, and software, via a web portal, mobileapplications, or on-site digital control station FIGS. 7-24. Throughthis combined technology, a variety of functions can be implemented tomanage the food lockers, see step 318, FIG. 8. These functions includemanaging temperature control, such as automatic temperature conversionsbased on time of day, via temperature readings from embedded probes (ifthe temperature reaches a rating out of the threshold, the compressor orheating pad will automatically energize to bring that temperature backto the desired rating), or via a queuing system (an algorithm thatdynamically assesses the state of all lockers and orders toautomatically convert temperatures in real time, as needed). The digitalprocessor for various embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Lockerrecognizes orders and assess locker availability based on temperaturesand the required temperature for an order, step 318, FIG. 8. If thereare no available lockers for the needed temperature, the digitalprocessor automatically converts a vacant locker to the desiredtemperature while the kitchen is preparing the meal, step 316, FIG. 8.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide electrical connectivity as depicted generally in therepresentative electrical schematic diagram 200, FIG. 7. 12 VDC powersupplies 202 and 204 provide electrical power to the microprocessor 206,user interface touch screen 296, bar code or quick response codescanner(s) 298, and locker control circuitry 208 for the solenoid lock,linear actuator, LED lighting, evaporative plate, and service resourcemodule(s) of the food locker 210.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod of the layout can apply to individual food lockers, modulararrays of food lockers, or an entire modular array wall of food lockers,FIGS. 3A-6D. For example, if a wall has 3 columns of lockers. FIG. 3D,the system operator can set columns 1 and 2 to hot, and column 3 to cold(cluster method). Likewise, the system operator could set the first 2boxes in column 1 to hot, the bottom 2 boxes in column 1 to cold, andthe remaining 2 columns to ambient (combination of individual andcluster). This locker management step 318 can be set up in the systemfor any combination or number of modular arrays of food lockers, FIG. 8

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide multiple-size, dual-zone food lockers where two lockersare set adjacent with an insulated divider separating them. Thesedual-zone lockers share one forward and one rear door which would bothunlock for placement into and retrieval from the lockers. This givessystem operators the option to offer multiple meals for one order. Forexample, if a soda and hamburger were ordered, one locker would be setto hot and the other to cold; if after that, someone orders fourhamburgers, the system operator could set both lockers to hot, to placetwo hamburgers in one locker and two hamburgers in the other. Thisflexibility for various orders with multiple foods selected highlightsthe novel utility of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system,and method. This utility offers the flexibility to accommodate foradditional space during peak periods. Both dual-zone lockers need not befilled. If the single-zone lockers are all occupied, and the systemoperator needs to place an additional order, they can simply use thedual-zone locker for a single item.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide lockers constructed of a food grade stainless-steelcabinet frame cored with flame retardant material. The locker interioris lined with 2400-degree Fahrenheit heat retardant thermal insulation.A thermal break 66 is installed at each door opening to limitcondensation, FIGS. 16A-17B. Mounted on the lockers 10 are doors 65A and65B comprised of dual paned insulated glass fixed within a compositeframe. The doors 65A and 65B house an LCD interactive human-machineinterface screen to serve as a customer interface. The locker doors 65Aand 65B are tempered insulated glass with UV blocking film 70 fixedwithin a composite frame for users to see the food, and internal LEDlighting. The locker doors 65A and 65B can also be solid and may matchthe finish of the unit. For some embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serveFood Locker assembly, system, and method, the front and rear lockerdoors, 65A and 65B, respectively, are mounted to the cabinet via alinear drive, allowing the doors to automatically open and close whenprompted. Some embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly,system, and method provide traditional spring-loaded swing food lockerdoors without screens. Some embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve FoodLocker assembly, system, and method provide manual rear doors mounted tothe rear of the locker 10 for loading prepared orders awaiting customerpickup, FIGS. 20-24. Food grade stainless steel left and right-sidepanels, 122 and 120 respectively, and base 124 house variants of modularfood locker configurations, FIG. 24.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly provide asafety light curtain sensor transmitter 40 and a safety light curtainsensor receiver 42 on opposite sides of a touchless linear drive foodlocker providing dual panel insulated glass with UV blocking film 70 andaccess to a food grade stainless steel food locker cavity 72, FIGS.16A-17B. The touchless linear drive food locker is attached to anddriven by a motorized linear actuator 48 affixed to a food lockerexternal surface by an adjustable field serviceable linear actuatormounting assembly 58 and a linear actuator tension/compression assembly56 with an electro-mechanical solenoid lock 50. The motorized linearactuator electronic control, driver, food compartment lighting, foodcompartment UV lighting, and access door safety interlock are allcontrolled by a front flag food locker chamber control module 44.

The food locker access door status is visibly displayed by an accessdoor opening indicator lamp/LED 62. An automatic or manual (notdepicted) food locker kitchen access door is controlled by RFID sensoror fingerprint sensor 62, FIGS. 16A-17B. An ultra-high-molecular-weight(UHMW) high-heat polyethylene thermal break 66 frames the access foodlocker door contact with the opening to the food locker cavity. Foodlocker interior lighting includes an ultra-violet (UVC) sanitizingmodule 88 and a light emitting diode (LED) module 82, FIG. 17B.

The kitchen access door driver, food compartment lighting, foodcompartment UV lighting, and access door safety interlock are controlledby a rear flag food locker chamber control module 46 and anelectro-mechanical solenoid lock 50. A santoprene, dart-style hightemperature polyvinyl chloride gasket 64 insulates the customer accessdoor and kitchen access door to the food locker cavity. Heating the foodlocker cavity is achieved by a silicone rubber mat heating element witha heat diffuser/conductive aluminum plate 54.

Cooling the self-serve food locker cavity is achieved by a refrigerantline feed 76 from a food locker module centric compressor 108, acapillary tube refrigerant return line 78 to the compressor 108, and acoolant control solenoid valve 74, FIGS. 16A-17B, 23. The food lockercavity is insulated by 2 inches thickness of closed-cell polyiso-foamwith embossed aluminum faces 68 enclosed between inner and outer foodlocker cavity shells 68. An external food locker top surface provides awiring access point 60 for food locker cavity internal lighting. A mainpower source drawer 90, FIG. 18, with a Programable Logic Controller(PLC) supplies signal distribution for customer door access and powerdistribution for alternating current, direct current and emergencybattery power for the system. The power source drawer 90 also hasprovisions for an on/off circuit breaker with an integrated power switch92 and a switch position for chamber emergency access 94. Technologystations provide convenient housing for the User Interface Touch ScreenPC. One version of technology stations consists of a food gradestainless steel or powder coated finish 100 towers 102, FIG. 19A. Thisversion of technology stations can be attached to self-containedstackable food locker columns with independently controlled pass-throughfood lockers and mechanical/electrical access doors with integratedhandles and security lock, i.e., FIGS. 1, 20-24. The second A variantversion of technology station is a housing that can be hung or attachedto a column or wall with a food grade stainless steel or powder coatedfinish 100, FIG. 19B. A typical food locker column tower consists of alocker assembly 12 as described in FIGS. 20-24 providingtemperature-controlled food locker chambers, FIGS. 16A-17B, the main ACpower source with programmable controller (digital processor 206, amemory module 196), network interface 192 within the DC power sourcedrawer 90, the pressure controlled compressed gas refrigeration system108, all contained within the tower. FIGS. 3A-6D, and 20-24 demonstrateseveral of the modular configurations for the embodiments of the ONDO™Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, and method components disclosedand described in FIGS. 16A-19.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide lockers in a variety of configurations to suit a widerange of food and beverage items.

Dry food lockers are provided for foods picked up within a brief periodof time according to all food safety standards. This unit willincorporate a simple shelf base for storing food. Hot food lockers areprovided for cooked foods served hot. The hot configuration includes aninduction warmer within the food locker interior.

Cold food lockers are provided for preserving drinks, frozen foods,salads, or other foods served cold. The cold food locker configurationincludes an evaporative plate that lines the food locker interior.

Hot and Cold Combination food lockers provide an interior partitionedinto two sections. One section provides the silicone mat heater, and theother provides an evaporative plate lining for storing both hot and coldfoods at the appropriate temperature. Hot and cold lockers areelectronically controlled via digital control mechanisms and sensors.Individual lockers can be connected to heating or cooling via a timedelay relay activated switch at the rear of the unit. Lockers storinghot food include a silicone rubber mat (SRM) heater 54, FIG. 16A, withadjustable heat settings for keeping food at an optimal temperaturewhile awaiting pickup. The warmer also includes built-in safety featuressuch as over-heat protection to mitigate burn and fire risks.

Glass Door with Integrated HMI LCD Screen

Food locker access doors are constructed of a glass panel mechanicallyfastened to a composite frame. Each food locker includes an integratedhuman machine interface (HMI) panel mounted to the door frame behind theglass. The HMI is programmed so graphics and textual information, suchas food locker number and the first name and last initial of thecustomer are displayed on the screen. The HMI is linked to the kioskwithin the restaurant, which is a platform for ordering and processingpayments. The food ordering and payment program enables the customer toopen the food locker door by pressing an on-screen door open button whenprompted. After the food is removed, an integrated occupancy sensorsignals the automated doors to close after a predetermined time.

Automated Flip-Up Doors

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide an automated system activating linear drive hardware,which allows the food locker doors to automatically open when promptedby the customer. The automatic food locker doors allow for a streamlinedand elegant, handle-less cabinet design. The sleek design simplifiescleaning while giving an aesthetically pleasing appearance. With thissystem, the food locker door silently glides up and out of thecustomer's way, which provides touchless, and unobstructed access to theparticular modular food locker housed in the cabinet.

Automatic food locker door mounting hardware is mechanically fastened tothe composite frame and the lift mechanisms are fastened on either sideof the food locker's interior cavity FIGS. 16A-17B. Once the doormounting hardware is mounted to both the food locker door frame and thefood locker interior, the food locker door is easily removed and swappedif needed without tools.

The linear drive hardware 48, 50, 56, and 58 to activate the automaticfood locker doors are powered via a 12V power supply mounted in a fieldserviceable drawer in the bottom of the cabinet and external to eachindividual modular food locker in the array of food lockers in thecabinet, FIGS. 16A-18. The linear drive hardware connects a push buttonswitch, so that the customer can close the food locker door with thepush of an on-screen button. The food locker door can also be programmedvia the HMI to close automatically after a predetermined time. Thelinear drive hardware 48, 50, 56, and 58 also establish a wiredconnection to a push button battery backup switch allowing the vendor toopen the food locker should a power failure occur.

Integrated Refrigeration and Heating Systems

Hot and cold food lockers are electronically controlled via digitalcontrol mechanisms and sensors. Individual food lockers can be connectedto heating or cooling via a time delay relay activated switch at therear of the unit. Food lockers storing hot food contain a 110V siliconemat heater 54 with adjustable heat settings for keeping food at anoptimal temperature while awaiting pickup FIGS. 16A-17B. The warmer alsoincludes built-in safety features such as over-heat protection tomitigate burn and fire risks.

Variants include food lockers configurated for cold food and beverageitems, refrigerated with an evaporative plate lining the internal foodlocker cabinet space. Using an evaporative plate 80 allows for acompact, cleanable surface on the interior of the food locker 10. Theevaporative plate 80 has an integrated supply and return for circulatingrefrigerant throughout its entire surface area. This supply and returnwill be piped to a compressor and evaporator, which can either be remoteto the unit, or housed within the lower portion of the cabinet 104, FIG.20 The evaporative plate 80 is a light weight, formable metal such asaluminum, formed to line the interior walls of the food locker.

Hot and Cold food lockers are partitioned to integrate both the siliconemat heater 54 and the evaporative plate 80 for storing hot and cold fooditems, respectively.

System Technology Overview

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide a digital processor, a memory module coupled to thedigital processor, and a network interface comprising wirelessconnectivity and coupled to the digital processor. This localmicroprocessor assembly, provides the system synchronization with cloudcomputing on a regular cadence, and is resident in a power source drawer90 inside (not shown) the technology tower station, FIG. 19A, or inside(not shown) the technology remote mounted station, FIG. 19B. Once anorder is delivered, the local microprocessor assembly and system sendsinformation to the cloud computing components, the cloud computingsystem sends wireless 720 notification (email, SMS, etc.) to thecustomer's hand-held digital device 700, FIGS. 19A and 19B.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide a system using central controller to de-energize orenergize specific magnetic locks based on food locker doors that need tobe opened or closed. This central controller also handles any LEDlighting associated with individual food lockers or food locker doors.

Upon initial implementation of embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve FoodLocker assembly, system, and method, an administrator user profile forsystem access is created. The administrator oversees internal system andoperational management of the ONDO™ modular food locker wallinstallation. The administrator adds an employee user, a named runnerwith limited privileges within the web portal control of the system, andlimited privileges in operating the physical ONDO™ modular food lockerwall. For example, these runners unlock vacant lockers to load food. Theadministrator may grant runners access to unlock occupied food lockersto remove expired orders, clean the food locker internal cavity, assessthe state of the food locker doors, and perform similar food lockeroperational maintenance activities.

Embodiments of the ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod provide an abbreviated portal available for customers to set uptheir own profile. These customers will have more limited rights thanrunners. These customers store information such as their name, contactmethod, additional identification parameters, and a personal unlock codeof their choice, which will be used for any order they place.

System and Method of Use

A method using a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processing device,cause the processing device to provide food to a customer from aself-serve food locker 10 for an embodiment of the ONDO™ Self-serve FoodLocker assembly, and system, FIGS. 9, 14 and 15, performing the stepsof:

-   -   A. Setting up customer identification 358, 502;    -   B. Inputting customer identification 336, 342, 502;    -   C. Placing food order into the system 504;    -   D. Receiving food order requirements and setting kitchen        requirements 506;    -   E. Providing system queuing analysis for the food order 508;    -   F. Adding the food order into the kitchen's queue 512 and        setting order status to “In Progress” 514;    -   G. Notifying customer that the food order is received and in        queue for delivery 516;    -   H. Preparing the food order 518;    -   I. Marking the food order complete 520 and generating metadata        including required system temperature for the food order 522;    -   J. Generating and sending a self-serve food locker access code        to the customer 524;    -   K. Scanning the self-serve access code on rear system display        screen(s) 526;    -   L. Storing the code in the system including customer        identification, assigned self-serve food locker, temperature        reference, self-serve locker occupied status, and self-serve        locker time stamp 528;    -   M. Providing rear portal access to the self-serve food locker        for loading the customer order 528;    -   N. Comparing time/stamp to the current time 532 and if        time/stamp has expired 534;    -   O. Receiving a customer scanned system food locker access code        from a remote customer hand-held digital device 538;    -   P. Searching the system for the scanned code 540;    -   Q. Opening the designated self-serve food locker for customer to        receive order 542;    -   R. Closing and locking the empty self-serve food locker 544;    -   S. Deactivating the customer's self-serve food locker access        code and providing access to vendor to empty the self-serve food        locker 536;    -   T. Erasing customer identification and accessing code from        system 546;    -   U. Emptying the self-serve food locker 548; and    -   V. Setting the self-serve food locker system status to available        and erasing the prior access code and customer identification        erased 546.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 of a runner usingembodiments of an ONDO™ Self-serve Food Locker assembly, system, andmethod of the disclosure. This method 500 may be performed by processinglogic that comprises hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic,programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions runon a processing device to perform hardware simulation), or a combinationthereof, and provides the operational steps for the apparatus andsystem.

The system generates a unique code associated to each customer'sindividual order. This code will be sent to the customer (via SMS,email, mobile app, etc.) upon completion of their order, FIGS. 8-13B.All the system access and control information are stored on the clouddatabase, and available to view on the ONDO™ web portal.

A customer places an order through any means (mobile app, 700, 702,FIGS. 19A and 19B, kiosk, FIG. 19B, at register, on website) 504, FIG.14. Once the kitchen has prepared the order, the runner approaches theONDO™ wall. In some capacity, the runner is identified by the system asa runner, which grants (specific user privileges). This can be throughfacial recognition, employee badge, PIN code, etc. 552, FIG. 15. Therunner profiles are created by the administrator or upon initialimplementation to provide the appropriate users “runner” privileges. Thesystem reads the user's unique code and cross-references with thedatabase for identification of the user, along with information;specifically, their user privileges.

The system indicates which locker(s) to load with food. This can beperformed the following ways: the runner scans a 2D or 3D barcode, andthe system assigns a food locker based on temperature and availability,316, FIG. 8; the runner manually indicates the temperature of each orderthrough a user interface, FIGS. 11a , 11B, and 13, and the systemassigns lockers, 316, FIG. 8, based 316, FIG. 8, on availability andtemperature of each locker or the temperature information is embedded inthe 2D or 3D code, and the system reads that information to assignlockers based on temperature and availability, 316.

The runner logs into the system using a mobile digital device 700(wirelessly connected 720), FIGS. 19A and 19B, or stationary(touchscreen) user interface, FIG. 11A, after which the systemidentifies the user as a “runner” and logs them in with special userprivileges, FIGS. 10 and 15. The mobile digital device or user interfaceprovides the runner with the state of all food lockers (available,occupied, hot, cold, etc.) 376, 402. Based on this system information asto locker availability, the runner decides is informed as to which foodlockers 10 to load, and loads the food into the lockers 10 404. Theloaded food lockers 10 are recorded in the system 406 with theassociated orders and are now deemed occupied. The runner manuallyindicates the temperature of each order, and the system assigns foodlockers based on availability and temperature of each food locker. Therunner types in a code corresponding to the order number, in which theorder information is embedded. The system reads that information toassign lockers based on temperature and availability. The systemautomatically taps into the database to update that food locker's state.

The food locker door is closed either automatically (after a setduration following food locker door unlock, through occupancy sensorwhich indicates food has been loaded and the runner's hand is not in thefood locker any longer or through a combination of both) or manually.

The local system synchronizes with the cloud portal and storesinformation upon completion of loading, FIG. 8. That informationincludes, but is not limited to, time/date, order number, food details(if applicable), and status of food locker.

The cloud system sends a notification to the customer through one, or avariety, of: SMS text, Email, and/or mobile application.

Included in the notification are: 2D/3D barcode pertaining to the ordercode, an unlock PIN, assigned food locker(s) 10 number(s), ONDO™ modularfood wall location (if the system is handling multiple locations), orderinformation, and a duration for pickup 410, 524.

Optionally, the system can generate subsequent notifications serving asreminders to the customer to pick up their order, and the time remainingbefore the possibility of pick-up has expired. If the food is picked upbefore the expiration time period step 542, the locker is set toavailable and any customer access codes for that locker are erased, 546.If the time has expired before the food has been picked up 534, thekitchen is notified to empty the locker and any customer codes for thatlocker are deactivated 536.

If the food is picked up by the customer before expiration, the customerarrives at the station and unlocks their assigned food locker(s) via theprocess selected by the customer among some options, 2D/3D barcode,unlock PIN 538 or an unlock button on customer's mobile digital device700.

The system reads the unlock code and cross-references with the datastored on the system microprocessor(s) and cloud-based data storage 390,542, 560 as part of a digital processor, a memory module coupled to thedigital processor and a network interface comprising wirelessconnectivity and coupled to the digital processor. A query is run in thelocal database that searches for the unique unlock code. If the unlockcode is not found in the database, the user is notified that their codewas invalid. If it is found in the database, the associated food lockerdoor is unlocked. The system pulls all information regarding that order(the immediately relevant piece of information being the dooridentification number) 540 and signals the central relay controller tode-energize the magnetic lock for that respective food locker door for aset duration to give the customer an opportunity to approach the doorand open it. The customer then retrieves their food from the identifiedfood locker 542.

If the food is not picked up before the designated time for pick up hasexpired, the runner/administrator is notified of expired order(s) 536.The runner goes to the food locker assembly 12 and unlocks the foodlocker(s) with expired food in them and removes the food 548.

The food locker lock will remain de-energized for a set period, 380,FIG. 10. After that period of time, it will re-energize, thereby lockingit. The unlock code remains active for a set duration after that,allowing the user to re-enter it if they missed the window of time thefood locker door was unlocked.

The food locker status is then updated in the local database as“vacant/available”. Every time there is a state change in any foodlocker, such as this, the local microprocessor controller synchronizesthe food locker status change with the cloud e.g., FIG. 14, 532, 528,546.

The food locker door is closed either automatically (after a setduration following the initial unlock; or through occupancy sensorswhich indicate food has been loaded and the runner's hand is not in thefood locker any longer; or through a combination of both), or manually.A timer can be set to trigger a notification to the administrator if thedoor is left open, and to automatically close the food locker door vialinear drive. The relay board signals the specific linear driver toinitiate door closing. A resistance sensor is implemented to deactivatethe door closing upon recognizing resistance to the door (example—Ifsomebody's hand is still in the threshold) to prevent injury ormalfunction. If this occurs, the system implements a secondary durationthreshold where the food locker door is reopened for a set amount oftime, and then it will attempt to close again. This protective doorclosure override step can be repeated a set number of times until anotification error message is sent to the administrator and the webportal. The administrator can deactivate that food locker for furtheruse until reactivated. In a deactivation period, the food is consideredunavailable for loading by the system so that no orders are routed tothat locker. The deactivated food locker temperature control is turnedoff to avoid unnecessary power consumption. The administrator's foodlocker deactivation rights are discretionary.

To manually close a food locker door, the administrator and runners arenotified of the open food locker door so the food locker door can bemanually closed. An LED light 52 will default to alarm status, and blinkto indicate the food locker door has been left open, FIGS. 16A-17B. Anerror message on the digital control screen appears with the errormessage “Door ‘NN’ has been left open. Please close.”

The local system microprocessor controller synchronizes with the cloudportal and stores information upon completion of removal. Thatinformation includes, but is not limited to time/date, order number,food locker details (if applicable), and/or “food locker now available.”

In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as “at leastone of” or “one or more of” may occur followed by a conjunctive list ofelements or features. The term “and/or” may also occur in a list of twoor more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitlycontradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase isintended to mean the listed elements or features individually, or therecited elements or features combined with the other recited elements orfeatures. For example, the phrases “at least one of A and B;” “one ormore of A and B;” and “A and/or B” are each intended to mean “A alone, Balone, or A and B together.” A similar interpretation is also intendedfor lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases “atleast one of A, B, and C;” “one or more of A, B, and C;” and “A, B,and/or C” are each intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and Ctogether.” In addition, use of the term “based on,” above and in theclaims is intended to include, “based at least in part on,” such that anun-recited feature or element is also permissible.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions are presented in terms ofalgorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bitswithin a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are the means used by those skilled in the videoprocessing arts to convey the substance of their work most effectivelyto others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally,conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desiredresult. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physicalquantities.

It should be borne in mind, however, that these and similar terms are tobe associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merelyconvenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specificallystated otherwise, as apparent from the above discussion, it isappreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing termssuch as “receiving”, “providing”, “transmitting”, “determining”,“generating”, “executing”, or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers andmemories into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system memories or registers or other suchinformation storage, transmission or display devices.

Examples described also relate to an apparatus for performing themethods described. This apparatus may be specially constructed forperforming the methods described, or it may comprise a digitalprocessor, a memory module coupled to the digital processor and anetwork interface comprising wireless connectivity and coupled to thedigital processor. The apparatus and system of embodiments provide ageneral-purpose computer system selectively programmed by a computerprogram stored in the computer system. Such a computer program may bestored in a computer-readable tangible storage medium.

The methods and illustrative examples described are not inherentlyrelated to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various, generalpurpose systems may be used under the teachings described, or it mayprove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to performmethods 300 and 500 and/or each of its individual functions, routines,subroutines, or operations. Examples of the structure for a variety ofthese systems are in the description above.

Whereas many alterations and modifications of the disclosure will becomeapparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read theforegoing description, it is to be understood that any particularimplementation shown and described by way of illustration is notintended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details ofvarious implementations are not intended to limit the scope of theclaims, which in themselves recite only those features regarded as thedisclosure.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have beendescribed referring to numerous specific details that may vary fromimplementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, tobe regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The soleand exclusive indicator of the scope of the invention, and what isintended by the applicants to be the scope of the invention, is theliteral and equivalent scope of the set of claims that issue from thisapplication, in the specific form in which such claims issue, includingany subsequent correction.

What is claimed:
 1. A self-serve food locker assembly to order, receive,house, and deliver takeout food to a designated recipient, the assemblycomprising: A) a digital processor, a memory module coupled to thedigital processor, and a network interface coupled to the digitalprocessor, the network interface comprising wireless connectivity; B) atleast one food locker comprising: i) internal LED lighting, ii) internalultra-violet lighting, iii) at least one touchless food locker doorcomprising a linear drive, the locker door further comprising: iv) atleast one integrated human-machine interface screen coupled to thedigital processor via the network interface, v) a food locker interiorsurface lined with 2400-degree Fahrenheit heat retardant thermalinsulation, and vi) at least one sensor configured to monitor aninterior space of each food locker; C) an external integrated heatingassembly and a refrigeration assembly for preserving the recipient'stakeout food housed within the at least one food locker; and D) a powerdrawer comprising a main AC power connection: the power drawer furthercomprising an interface for: the digital processor, the at least onesensor, the ultra-violet lighting, the at least one human-machineinterface screen, on/off circuit breakers with an integrated powerswitch, and a battery backup switch for emergency access to the at leastone food locker; wherein the memory module stores programmedinstructions which, when executed by the digital processor, cause the atleast one digital human-machine interface screen to: i) display thatfood has been placed into the locker when the at least one sensordetects that takeout food is placed into the food locker, ii) displaythat food has been removed from the food locker when the at least onesensor detects that takeout food is removed from the food locker, andiii) indicate when a predetermined wait time for removing food elapsesfor a loaded food locker.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprisinga modular array of self-serve food locker assemblies, the modular arraysuitable to be built into a wall between a kitchen environment and apublic space, whereby each self-serve food locker assembly compriseslinear drive hardware on the food locker door, and comprises touchlessaccess to the food from both the kitchen environment and the publicspace.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a modular array ofself-serve food locker assemblies, the modular array suitable to bebuilt into a wall between a kitchen environment and a public space,whereby each self-serve food locker assembly comprises linear drivehardware on the food locker door, and comprises touchless access to thefood from the public space.
 4. The assembly of claim 2, furthercomprising at least one technology tower station comprising: i) a userinterface touch screen panel, ii) a bar code scanner, iii) a quickresponse code scanner, and iv) wireless connectivity, and wherein theside, front, rear, and top surfaces of the technology tower stationcomprise food grade stainless steel or powder coated finish.
 5. Theassembly of claim 4, wherein each touchless food locker door furthercomprises a safety light curtain sensor transmitter and a safety lightcurtain sensor receiver.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein eachtouchless food locker door further comprises dual paned insulated glasswith UV blocking film coating.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein eachtouchless food locker door further comprises; i) a food locker doorelectronic control of each linear food drive, ii) food locker interiorlighting, iii) food locker ultra-violet lighting, and iv) a door safetyinterlock module.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each touchlessfood locker door further comprises an RFID sensor and a fingerprintsensor for kitchen access.
 9. An assembly for a self-serve food lockercomprising, in combination: A) a food grade stainless-steel cabinetframe cored with flame retardant material, the cabinet frame providingfood lockers, each food locker comprising front and rear food lockerdoor openings that define a food locker cavity; B) a food locker cavitysurface lined with 2400-degree Fahrenheit heat retardant thermalinsulation; C) a temperature control module configured to providecooling with a time-delay activated switch; D) a front food locker doormounted to the cabinet via an apparatus, the front food locker doorproviding automatic opening and closing of the food locker front door,the food locker front door further comprising dual-paned insulated glasswith UV blocking film fixed within a composite frame, the dual-panedinsulated glass housing a human machine interface with LCD screen thatserves as a customer interface, and E) a rear food locker door.
 10. Theassembly of claim 9 wherein the automatic opening and closing of thefront food locker front door is performed by a combination of each ofthe following: A) a motorized linear actuator; B) an adjustable fieldserviceable linear actuator mounting assembly; C) a linear actuatortension/compression assembly; and D) an electro-mechanical solenoidlock.
 11. The assembly of claim 10 whereby the motorized linearactuator, a driver, a food locker cavity lighting assembly, a foodlocker cavity UV lighting assembly, and an access door safety interlockare electronically controlled by: A) a front flag food locker chambercontrol module, B) a digital processor communicating with a memorymodule coupled to the digital processor, and C) a network interfacecomprising wireless connectivity and coupled to the digital processor.12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising: A) a cooling assemblycomprising a refrigerant line feed from a food locker module centriccompressor, B) a capillary tube refrigerant return line to thecompressor, and C) a coolant control solenoid valve.
 13. The assembly ofclaim 12, further comprising an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW)high-heat polyethylene thermal break that frames each of the food lockerdoor openings to access each food locker cavity.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 13, further comprising a santoprene, dart-style high temperaturepolyvinyl chloride gasket for insulating each of the front food lockerdoors, and the rear food locker doors to access each food locker cavity.15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising a safety light curtainsensor transmitter, and a safety light curtain sensor receiver onopposite sides of ea c h of the front food locker door openings.
 16. Theassembly of claim 15, wherein the rear food locker door is unlocked andopened manually by a user via an RFID sensor, or a fingerprint sensor.17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the rear food locker door ismounted to the cabinet via an assembly providing automatic opening andclosing of the rear food locker door.
 18. A self-serve food lockerassembly comprising, in combination: A. a digital microprocessor, amemory module coupled, and a network interface comprising wirelessconnectivity, the memory module and the network interface coupled to thedigital microprocessor; B. at least one food locker comprising: i)internal lighting, i i) internal ultra-violet lighting, iii) at leastone food locker door that provides at least one integrated human-machineinterface screen, the integrated human-machine interface screen coupledto the digital microprocessor via the network interface, iv) a foodlocker interior surface lined with 2400-degree Fahrenheit heat retardantthermal insulation, v) dual-paned insulated glass with UV blocking filmcoating, and vi) a plurality of sensors within the food locker interiorspace to monitor the interior space of each food locker; C. an externalintegrated heating assembly and refrigeration assembly for preserving arecipient's takeout food order housed within an interior space of the atleast one food locker; D. a power drawer comprising a main AC powerconnection that includes an interface for: i) the digital processor, ii)the at least one sensor, iii) the internal ultra-violet and internallighting, iv) the at least one human machine interface screen, v) on/offcircuit breakers that include an integrated power switch, and vi) abattery backup switch for emergency access to the at least one foodlocker; E. a touchless linear assembly drive for the at least one foodlocker door, the touchless linear assembly comprising, in combination:i) a motorized linear actuator; ii) an adjustable field serviceablelinear actuator mounting assembly; iii) a linear actuatortension/compression assembly; and iv) an electro-mechanical solenoidlock providing access to the food locker interior space; F. at least onetechnology tower station comprising: i) a user interface comprising atouch screen panel, ii) a bar code scanner, iii) a quick response codescanner, iv) wireless connectivity, and wherein side, front, rear, andtop surfaces of the technology tower station comprise a food gradestainless steel or powder-coated finish; G. the digital microprocessoris further configured to control a temperature of the at least one foodlocker interior space; H. some of the plurality of sensors within thefood locker interior space are provided at various access points withinthe food locker interior space for measuring food locker interior spacetemperature, an object's presence in the food locker interior space, andfood locker door status; I. some of the lighting assemblies and UVlighting assemblies are within the food locker interior space; and J.wherein the memory module stores programmed instructions which, whenexecuted using the digital processor, causes the at least onehuman-machine interface screen to: i) display that food has been placedinto the food locker when at least one sensor detects that food is placeinto the food locker, ii) display that food has been removed from thefood locker, or iii) indicate after a predetermined time elapses for aloaded food locker.
 19. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising amodular array of self-serve food locker assemblies, the modular arraysuitable to be built into a wall between a kitchen environment and apublic space, whereby each self-serve food locker assembly compriseslinear drive hardware on the food locker door and comprises touchlessaccess to the food from both the kitchen environment and the publicspace.
 20. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a modular arrayof self-serve food locker assemblies, the modular array suitable to bebuilt into a wall between a kitchen environment and a public space,whereby each self-serve food locker assembly comprises linear drivehardware on the food locker door and comprises touchless access to thefood from the public space.